2000 Lexus RX300 Problems

What owners report

Nearly all of what owners report about this model year centers on the automatic transmission: complaints describe sudden loss of drive, slipping or delayed shifts, and rebuild or replacement bills of several thousand dollars. Most of these accounts come in between roughly 70,000 and 130,000 miles and often follow a history of regular scheduled maintenance. Smaller clusters of complaints cover engine oil sludge, unintended engine revving, and recurring lighting failures.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission fails suddenly, no drive or reverse

   • 113 complaints (52%)
   • median 106,527 mi at 9.5 yrs old (106 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $4,150 (median of 32 quotes)
   • filed 2005–2018

   Owners describe the transmission slipping, hesitating or shifting erratically for a short time and then losing all drive or reverse, sometimes with a clunk, grinding or dragging noise. In many accounts the failure happened without a warning light and without any diagnosis found beforehand at a scheduled service. Repair shops typically rebuilt or replaced the unit, with owners quoting a few thousand dollars, and several report a replacement transmission failing again later. Mostly between about 70,000 and 130,000 miles, with a number of reports beyond 130,000 and a few at lower mileage; complaints are spread across all seasons and driving conditions.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive long enough to feel every upshift and downshift, and check for delayed or flaring shifts, clunks or a delay engaging reverse. Ask whether the transmission or its fluid has ever been serviced or replaced, and whether any shifting symptoms have been recorded.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2000 Lexus RX300 with 124,000 miles on it. The transmission has failed in the car after normal driving conditions. The maintenance manual does not indicate to change the transmission oil in the car, only to check it. I have been on numerous Lexus internet sites which have stated the same problem has occurred to them with the same model and year Lexus.”

   NHTSA complaint #10254999, filed 2009-01, 124,000 miles

   “I own a 2000 model Lexus rx 300 which was been having all services on time at Lexus dealer and at 89k mile my transmission has been broken. I have learned that this a common encountered problem by may rx 300 owner and seems possible related to faulty manufacturing. I have contacted Lexus for replacement, however there seems to be a need for a recall on this matter.”

   NHTSA complaint #10264448, filed 2009-04, 89,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shifter moves but no gear engages

   • 23 complaints (11%)
   • median 94,500 mi at 9.9 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $5,208 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2016

   A smaller group of complaints describes the shift lever moving loosely through the gates without the car going into any gear. Some owners found that only one gear, or only a low range, would engage while others showed nothing at all. Vehicles were towed to a service center, and some owners traced it to the dash and shifter console assembly. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 29,000 to about 120,000 miles, without a clear weather or driving pattern.

   What to check: Try each gear position while stationary, including reverse and neutral, and feel for a loose or disconnected lever. Ask whether the shifter cable, console assembly or range sensor has been repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 11/03/12 I put the transmission shifter into reverse and backed out of a driveway into the street. I then moved the shifter from r , past n into d to move forward, but there was no engagement into any gear. The shifter just moved forwards and backwards with no resistance. There was previous no indication of any problem. The engine was still running. I didn't want to be hit by another vehicle, so I got out of the Lexus and pushed it back into the driveway and turned off the engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10509921, filed 2013-04, 29,025 miles

   “Shifter lever moves freely (and loosely) but doesn't shift the transmission into any gear. This happened in a publix parking lot after backing out of a parking space and attempting to put the vehicle into drive. Aaa was called and the RX300 had to be loaded onto a flat bed and brought to a service center.”

   NHTSA complaint #10816361, filed 2015-12, 72,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended engine revving or acceleration

   • 12 complaints (6%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2016

   Owners describe the engine revving and the car surging forward while creeping into a parking space or pulling out, sometimes with the driver's foot near or on the brake. Several complaints mention the car taking off as the lever was moved into reverse or drive, and in some cases the vehicle struck a wall or sign. Owners report no warning lights afterward and no stored fault code at the dealer. Mileage varies widely, from around 36,000 to 113,000 miles, and the events usually happened at low speed in parking lots or driveways rather than on the open road.

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise control has ever been serviced, and have the throttle response checked at idle and during light creeping in a parking area before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I went into my garage and got in my car (Lexus RX300,2000). It started normally, but it would not shift until I pressed the override button and put it into reverse. As soon as the shifter hit (r) the throttle seemed to go wide open and the car bolted out of the garage. Luckily, since my foot was on the brake almost instantly I was able to stop the car before it got out of control. The car traveled about 30 ft before I could stop it. I think I put it into park and just sat there and tried to calm down. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10379575, filed 2011-01, 113,457 miles

   “My parents own a 2000 Lexus RX300. On the way back from a wedding, the car started to accelerate and my dad could not stop the car. He had to go over through a gas station parking lot to avoid cars stopped at a light. He said the engine kept revving high and the car kept accelerating. He was able to stop the car by running the wheels along the curb. After my dad and my mom were safe, he called me. I rushed over to the car and checked it out. No check engine lights and no other known issues. I called aaa for a tow. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10313877, filed 2010-02, 82,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine oil sludge and contamination

   • 10 complaints (5%)
   • median 62,500 mi at 5.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2010

   Complaints describe a check engine light followed by a dealer finding of sludge in the engine, in one case during a road trip and in another ending with the engine seizing on the highway. Owners say the dealer recognized it as a known issue and covered repairs under warranty or an extended program. Several mention the condition being hard to spot during a used-car inspection unless the valve cover is removed. Mileage ranged from around 36,000 to 56,000 in the reports here, with one failure at higher mileage after the extended coverage period had ended.

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition and look for a fuel or varnish smell, and ask for oil change records and whether any sludge-related repair or engine replacement was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Resolving oil sludge repair problem on used rx 300 with third party Lexus dealer--car broke down on 1200 mile road trip. Lexus paid for rental car for return trip. Repair is under warranty. My problem is the dealer we purchased the car from must have known this problem existed with these vehicles and had ample evidence of lack of oil changes in the repair history, yet did not pull the valve cover off this vehicle to determine if oil sludge problem existed. Isn't that standard practice for all used car inspections? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10071203, filed 2004-01, 56,370 miles

   “My wife noticed a check engine light on as she was driving to work. She called me on the cell phone and we took the car to Lexus of clearwater. I recieved a phone call saying they had detected sludge in the engine and it would need to be fixed. They told me they might cover it under warranty because it was a known issue but they would call me back. I also checked the website and Lexus knows of the problem and says they will stand 100% behind the customer for 8 yrs and unlimited miles. No other requirenment is listed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10003221, filed 2003-01, 36,000 miles
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights, brake and tail lamps keep failing

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report headlights, brake lights and the center stop lamp working intermittently or going out, sometimes with repeated bulb and socket replacement without a lasting fix. One owner said the outer headlight housings turned cloudy and reduced effective lighting, and another described failing lamps with no fault found in the wiring. Typically reported between about 70,000 and 100,000 miles, with owners describing repeated failures over several years rather than a single event.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Walk around the car and check every lamp, including the center stop lamp, and look at the headlight lens clarity. Ask whether lights or sockets have been replaced repeatedly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased my vehicle (2000 Lexus rx 300) in 2004 with less than 35,000 and every year since 2007 I have had issues with lighting. I have had the park light, brake light, center stop lamp; center brake light socket and bulbs all replaced. The unfortunate issue is that the lights have to be replaced every year sometimes twice a year because they continue to malfunction. I always take my vehicle to the Lexus of orlando dealership for testing, service and repair but they obviously never completely fix this issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10433975, filed 2011-11, 72,105 miles

   “This is an Lexus RX300 2000 edition; the problem has been an electrical problem. It started with an untraceable problem in which the rear tail brake light stopped working; later on, the two main head-lamps stopped working; fuses have been changed, bulbs have changed, but no problem has been found. The car has not been in any accidents or damage.”

   NHTSA complaint #10141199, filed 2005-10, 100,000 miles

Buying note. The transmission accounts for most of the owner feedback on this model year, so factor a possible rebuild or replacement into what you are willing to pay unless there is paperwork showing recent transmission work. Beyond that, check lighting and engine oil condition carefully and ask for full service records.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.